Reading's wage bill in perspective

[Brain Traysers]

I just hope the wage bill goes down as they get paid to much.

[Tommy Youlden's Ears]

I'm somewhat suprised that our wages are as relatively high as they are. I'd assumed that Bolton's wage bill would have been way higher. Anyone know if these are players' wages only, or for the entire club staff?

[Stooper]

Am I the only one tittering at the heading 'Wage Rank'?

[brendywendy]

a 109 % increase i didnt realise it more than doubled-and i thought it was 26m not 29.8m

thats just an obscene ammount of money

[Southbank Old Boy]

a 109 % increase i didnt realise it more than doubled-and i thought it was 26m not 29.8m

thats just an obscene ammount of money

The 29.8 includes the "social security costs" and "pension costs." The 26 (actually 26.4) was just the "gross wages and salaries"

[Southbank Old Boy]

I'm somewhat suprised that our wages are as relatively high as they are. I'd assumed that Bolton's wage bill would have been way higher. Anyone know if these are players' wages only, or for the entire club staff?

It's for all payroll costs of The Reading Football Club (Holdings) PLC

[Platypuss]

Worth noting:

"The top four spenders in the Championship (Sunderland, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Derby County) occupied the top four league spots."

[ElmParker]

Am I the only one tittering at the heading 'Wage Rank'?

ALOL!

[Huntley & Palmer]

Worth noting:

"The top four spenders in the Championship (Sunderland, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Derby County) occupied the top four league spots."

Few worrying snippets from Deloitte & Touche today though, based on last season's numbers:

In 2006-07 Premier League clubs' salaries rose 13% - marginally ahead of a median 11% rise in revenue - to £969m and they will have broken the £1bn barrier in the season just finished. Clubs paid an average of £48.5m in wages, with Chelsea having the biggest bill at £133m and Watford the smallest at £17.7m. The picture was gloomier in the Championship, where aggregate operating losses worsened as average wage increases of 14% outstripped median revenue growth of 3%.

The 2006-07 figures almost certainly reflect clubs spending future broadcasting revenues but there are startling disparities between the important wages-to-turnover ratios at clubs in England's top two divisions. The average Premier League figure stood at 63% but Tottenham could be proud of their housekeeping because their wages/turnover ratio was the lowest at 42%. Manchester United's was a disciplined 44% and Liverpool's 58%.

Worrying figures of 80% and 85% were recorded at Middlesbrough and Blackburn respectively. Even more alarmingly, Sunderland's ratio was 90% and Derby's 125%. But the latter two probably reflect the payment of performance-related bonuses to players for winning promotion.

Significantly, only eight Premier League clubs showed operating profits, namely Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle, Reading, Sheffield United and Watford. England's top division was deposed as Europe's richest in terms of operating profits by Germany's Bundesliga, where the average wages/turnover ratio was 45% and collective profits of €250m (£197m) outstripped the Premier League's €141m

So those that are moaning about a lack of investment, might want to look through the document if they have access to it

[Southbank Old Boy]

So those that are moaning about a lack of investment, might want to look through the document if they have access to it

Doesn't that just show that outside of the top four and the relegated clubs we didn't invest as much of our income as the rest of the league because we actually made a profit.

[Ian Royal]

So given wages in the chumpionship top out at around £19m max, we're at least £10m over that.

Bearing in mind Hunt would cost us about £2m max, thats a lot of cuts just to drop to the same as the huge spenders in tier 2.

The quoted 40% drop in wages takes us to £17m ish. Thats still very high. No wonder we need to get rid of a few players as well.

But of course, where has all the money gone. wah wah wah

[Southbank Old Boy]

So given wages in the chumpionship top out at around £19m max, we're at least £10m over that.

Bearing in mind Hunt would cost us about £2m max, thats a lot of cuts just to drop to the same as the huge spenders in tier 2.

The quoted 40% drop in wages takes us to £17m ish. Thats still very high. No wonder we need to get rid of a few players as well.

But of course, where has all the money gone. wah wah wah

So coming into the division with supposedly one of the highest income because of our most recent time in the Premier League means we have to cut our wage bill to less than £2m under your £19m top out figure right?

Considering we should compete reasonably well in terms of attendences and income outside of the parachute payments what is your reasoning for needing to be so far under the top pay levels so quickly?

[rhroyal]

I have to admit all this is changing my view a bit. Our low costs may have got us relegated but we're not operating on a loss and will never be under the threat of anything like administration. I imagine if Shorey and Hunt go that'll free up wages and of course there must be relegation wage drop clauses in everybody's contracts. You must also remember that when comparing our wage bill to the Championship's we have parachute payments which are designed for just this issue.

[Laura Norder]

is that reel they get pad miillins to play blimy i wish i plaid footy and get millins to play footy i woud be well ricj fanks mr coppel for the millins

[Laura Norder]

and wot dos mean perspective is that like glass or sothing

[brendywendy]

i would assume that laura is a comedy persona
but with the state of education today i just cannot be sure

[Laura Norder]

i am reel and i no space criuser and royal lady both for years and yeers and his dog

[Southbank Old Boy]

i would assume that laura is a comedy persona
but with the state of education today i just cannot be sure

An amazingly hilarious one at that

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Im sure some figures were published during last season that showed our wage bill as the lowest in the Prem for 2007/08.